Andy Murray's 2015 season culminated in Davis Cup joy

Andy Murray can look back on 2015 with great satisfaction after ending the season as world No 2 and winning the Davis Cup with Great Britain. 

2014 was pure frustration for the Scot, having spent the majority of it rehabilitating from back surgery. But he made a lung-bursting start to this year, which suggested he was close to being back to his best. 


And although there were fits and starts in the latter part of the season due to his Davis Cup excursions, Murray knows he can approach next season with a lot more optimism and real hope of adding a third career slam to his trophy cabinet. 
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Here, we look back on the highs and lows of Murray's season and we start in Melbourne...

Australian Open

Murray looks on as Novak Djokovic holds the Norman Brookes Challenge Cup

Murray was already a three-time losing finalist down under but looked fresh and eager to finally seal a maiden Melbourne title. He was involved in a gruelling five-set contest with Grigor Dimitrov before coming through to reach his sixth consecutive Australian Open quarter-final. A straight sets win over Nick Kyrgios followed before Murray came from a set down to beat Tomas Berdych to seal a place in his first major final since his Wimbledon success in 2013.
But he came up against an inspired Novak Djokovic, and despite glimpses of his old magic, Murray was beaten 7-6 (7-5) 6-7 (4-7) 6-3 6-0 as he wilted in the heat and humidity. Murray's run to the final enabled him to return to the top four in the world rankings for the first time in 12 months, which was a major boost going forward.

ATP World Tour Masters 1000 Miami

This was a milestone tournament for Murray, who recorded his 500th career win en route to the final - becoming the first British player to do so in the Open Era. Once again he went up against world No 1 Djokovic and once again he was 'bageled' in the decider, losing 7-6 (7-3) 4-6 6-0.

Murray celebrates his 500th ATP Tour victory against Kevin Anderson in Miami

Munich Open

So to the Scot's least favourite surface - clay - but he was more than determined to land his first ATP title on the red stuff and it finally came in Germany. Murray overcame the efficient Philipp Kohlschreiber from Germany in a titanic three-set battle to become the first Briton since Buster Mottram in 1976 to win a Tour level clay-court event.

ATP World Tour Masters 1000 Madrid

Murray consoles Rafa Nadal after his straight-sets victory in the Madrid Masters final

Murray reached a second successive clay-court final the following week and this time he produced one of his greatest ever performances against the 'King of Clay' Rafa Nadal in his own backyard. The two-time Grand Slam champion dismissed Milos Raonic and Kei Nishikori along the way before outclassing the Spaniard 6-3 6-2, securing his first victory over Nadal, Djokovic or Roger Federer since winning Wimbledon two years earlier.